QAJAR IRAN, 19TH CENTURY

Written in ghubari script, this miniature Qur’an is a testament to the skill of its calligrapher. The minuteness of the script and the size of the Qur’an itself means that it would be small enough to carry with the owner on a daily basis, usually around the neck, bringing them protection. The inscription found on the steel box accompanying the Qur'an indicates its talismanic use. This prayer is typically found inscribed onto swords, as evidenced by lot 52 in this sale, attempting to imbue them with the power of Dhu’l-Faqar, the legendary bifurcated sword of ‘Ali. The fact that it is found on our steel box suggests that this Qur’an may have been hung from an ‘alam (standard) and used in a battle context. A further Qajar steel case can be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (1298-1873). A miniature Qur’an with comparable illumination was sold in these Rooms, 26 April 2013, lot 599.